Fastening



claims.

illustrating the clip fof Fig.1,fand Y Fig.. 5 is av detached perspective view showing anotherformof. clip. Y f f As alreadyindicated above in lthe fastening 2l ofthe presentfinvention can befusedi for connecting metal plates or various Patented Feb. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FASTENING Donald Keith ,Macleod, Wooster, hio,` assigner to United Steel Fabricators, Inc., Wooster, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio v j Applicationy July 23, 1945, Serial No. 606,511

" (01. iss-36) 2 Claims.

.This invention relates to fastenings` and,

more particularly, to fa-steningsv for connecting superposed members ,or metal 4plates and which are readily applicable to various uses and building structures including roofs, culverts, building forms, andother structures.

i yAn object of the present invention is to providev Vanv improved fastening of this character embodying ycooperating pin'and clip elements and wherein ther continuity ofthe upper or outer f plate can be maintained 'unbroken so that leak- -age through the structure atthev`v point of vthe fastening will be prevented. f

'Another object of'this invention is to provide an improved fastening of the character mentioned, in which the clip is attached to the Vouter plate and extends through an opening ofthe inner plate and the retaining pin is taperedand wedgingly cooperates with'the clip for drawing the `plates tightly together. l l Y A further'object is te provide an improved fastening of the character referred to,-in which 'the retaining pin is of a sheetV metal construction and is of a form to cooperate with thevclip :and innermost plate in a manner to produce a tight and reliable fconnectionwithout subjecting the structure.` to .undue distortion or other damage. Y

The invention can be further briefly sumlmarized as consisting in `certain novel combina- 5' :tions and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out'in the appended In the accompanying sheet of drawings,

Fig. 1 isa view looking toward the inner surface of av roof or wall structure 'embodying the improved fastening of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is` a partial .transversesection'taken l through the structurei'on linef22 of Fig. 1; Fig.- 3:'is a partial longitudinalV section taken -i f through. thefstructure on line A3---3 of Fig. 1;

Figs is: a 4partial perspective view-further embodied in the fastening yotherfimembers and,v by way of example, Fig. 1

."rof the drawings shows aroof or wall structure 2U l" in which` the 'fastening' is embodied. As vshown dn. Fig. j 1 the structure l2l)I is Aformed by metal membersaorfplates' 22v and 23'dispos'ed ini/'superlifposedrelation l as is "usual I'inffroofv constructionsv a. general way,4

gether in such a manner that there will be no openings inthe outermost plate 22 at the locations of the fastenings and through which rain or other liquid might leak. When the plates 22 and 23y are of a corrugated construction as mentioned above, the fastenings 2l are preferably located lin the channel recesses of the corrugations.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive the fastening 2l comprises clip and pin elements 25 and 24 which cooperate with the outer and inner plates 22 and 23 in a manner to cause the overlapping portions of these plates tor be drawn tightly together and to be reliably held in as sembled relation. The clip 25 may be formed from sheet metal of suitable thickness and comprisesk a tubular member having an opening 26 through whi-ch the pin 24 extends as will be further explained hereinafter.

The inner plate 23, or plates in the event that there are a plurality of such inner platesor members, is provided with an opening 26 of a suitable size and shape to accommodate the clip 25`and through which the clip extends when -the plates vare in the assembled relation shown in Fig. 1` The outermost plate 22 extends continuously over the opening 26 of the inner plate the opening 26 (see Fig. 3).

or plates so as to form a cover or closure for such opening. The base of the clip 25 is attached to the inner side of the outermost plate 22,.'as by means of the spot welding indicated at 28.l The opening 26 is preferably of a size and shape in relation'to the size and shape of the base of the clip such that an edge 32 of the base will be engaged by a corresponding edge .33 of The clip thus forms a stop for preventing shifting of the inner plate 23 relative to the outer plate 22. This feature is especially useful in roof constructions where the engagement of the uppermost edgev of the opening 26 with the base of the clip is used v:to prevent downward shifting of the plate. 23re1a- *tive'to'the plate 22.

The retaining pin 24 extends through the openis, in a direction away from the overlapping plates so that only its end portions 24a. andw'illb will bear on the underside of the innermost plate 23. It is also important that Ithepin klZliisf-sfnriewhat resilient because this characteristicassists in obtaining a Wedging engagement of the pin in the clip. The wedging ofthe VtaperedY pin in the opening of the clip also results, in part, from the fact that the connected plates 22 and'Z-are usually made of relatively thin material such as -`lthe"`sheet metal shown `in` the drawingsv andk the .finvvardv pulleXerted on Vthe 'clip bythe tapered l-pirrcauses a limited amount'of inward'deflection or springing of the outer-plate. As here'shown, "the-pin can bev made from 'sheetiinetal of appropriatelthickn-ess.infwhich:case yit is oi a hollow or substantially U-shaped cross-section with a -roundedflongitudinal'ftop and with the .abovefmenticnedbowed contour iormedrin' thelongitudinal edgesfof `the spaced sidewalls 24e.

TFfig'. I'ofthefdrawings shows the platesi.` and i? 23 Efin `the abovedescribed Asup'erposed or. Voverlapping'relationy and with the clip 25 extending :ithroughfthe o-pening'28 of theinnermost plate. TThesretainingfipin 24` isshown asfl'xavingA been Hinse'rtedthroughfthe:openingf ofvthe clip and is'fready to be driven vfurther intoA the clip for .producing a i wedging engagement therein and for drawing the overlapping portions of the .plates tightly Aagainst eachother. rEhe tapered fopn is preferably inserted into the opening of the '..iclip in= a direction suclfithatthe small end of Mtlieepinwilly extend'downwardly and the force of ,fgrav'itgnwill' tendI to tightenthe pin in'thefclip vratherthan loosen 'it. The pin can"befidriven fintoztherclipfby blows of a hammer or other suitable Ltool Avdelivered against the large `end ofthe 1 pin. Y-AWhenther pin is thus driven intov the clip itfis subjected to some springing or deflection` which reacts to pullthe'plat'es togetherlandyas `mentioned"above,y assists in produeingthe de- 'i sired nwedging engagement of theI pin 'in f the clip oopening.

s In the accompanying'drawings the bovvedcon A `tour oreamber on the innerlongitudinal'edge or i edges ofthe :pin'is somewhat exaggerated for the ,sake `of clearnessci 'the ldrawings. In.I actual practice this ycamper ofthe pin 'should bei'such .that when the' lpirrhas` been `driven-vinto the clip ...dan enoughV :tot produce a` tight Wedgingngagement in the clip opening and a tightengagement `r-betiveen` the overlapping portions ofthe plates, the-inner edge oiV the pin will-engage either the -v`top fofthebasefofuthe clip or rthelower edgev of ,the clip fopening and such engagement will serve vasafstop'for-preventing further longitudinal emot/ement 'ci the pin the clip opening. `The f :height-of the`v clipppening in relation to thev cor- =responding height Vor dimension of the pin are i also, factors of this stop feature and assist in deztermining the extent towhich the pin :can be fnbegdriventinto:the'clip. The provision .ofthis :stop'zfeature issirnportant because ,if the pin were driven an excessive distance 4througl'ithef cipiit ...fwouldrcause-au .undue stresslto be:,applied,to the.:

clip which would result either in the clip being torn loose from the outer plate 22 or in one or both of the overlapping plates being bent or otherwise damaged. When the tapered retaining pin 24 has been driven into the clip in the manner above explained, its wedging engagement therein and the pressure oi' its ends on the innerplate ordinarily :retain'thepin inf-a locked 4condition forl maintaining` a i" tight engagement between the overlapping plates Z2 and 23 alftthough, if desired, the fastening can be easily @and quickly released by driving the pin back out of the clip whenever this might be found desiri able,l suchias Wh'enthe fastening is being used in A temporary or `=forms.

portable buildings or building Thev clip is `in the form of a tapered tubular member which may be made from sheet metal of appropriate thickness. The clip is attached to the underside of the outermost plate 22 and, as

.mentionedabcve extends] throughv` an f opening' 26 of. the linner plate -.or: plates? 23. J The' clip' has: as itsbasea pair'of inturned longitudinal vedgesor flanges 27 Which'are connected to theplate" 22 byA the spot Welding 28. 'The-tapersfofgthe clip opening 9 corresponds substantial'y f with :the taper of the piny eso thatsa4 considerable' 'bearing area will be obtained 'betweenwthef-p'in and clip ,by` a 1Wedging= engagement therebetween" which Yextends for'ithefull length of'z the clipfwhen the pin fis `driven intowthe :latten Fig. 5 lshows ,another clip y3IJ whichisf'intended for the same purposewasithe clip-'(25. '.Theclipis; aw-tapered andtransversely `curvedrnez'nber which is serrated, as indicated'. at" -3 I alongl its f longitudinal edges.

This `form. of clip is intended Yto be connected to the outerwsheet oriiplateby shaving its `serra-ted .'edges pressure welded .thereto.

From the foregoing descriptionandthe accompanying drawings; it willV now be readilys'understood :that: this-invention provides .anA improved fastening which is especially suitable 'for use. in

t roofs and other building structures in which overlapping lmetal plates or other members are to be securely held :togetherl Withoutrequiringl anropening toA be formed in theoutermost Arnemberzand through which leakage of rain or otherxliquid might occur.

.While improved fasteningsA and their use .have been `illustrated and described herein in considerable detail it will be understood of .course that the invention is not to be regardedy as correspondingly limited in scopeV but` is Yintended to vinclude all changes and modifications coming Within the spirit ofwthe invention and thescope of the appended claims.

Havingthusdescribed my invention, l. claim:

i. Ina-fastening'of the'character' described,` a pair of superposedsheetV metal plates inface-tofacelengagementioffwhich the inner plate-has an opening therein andltheouter plate extends in continuous relation ,across said opening, a hollow sheet metal clip having a tapered opening' therein and .also 4having a greater dimension longitudinally of said tapered opening thanitfdoes transversely ofthe tapered opening,'saidc1ip being attached to said outer plate and. projecting inwardlyft-hrough the opening `of said inner plate, andV a tapered 'resilient retainingpmx-extending through andA ywedginglyf engaged; inA the tapered opening of said: clip andfhaving its "endsbearing Y. on.v saldi inner :plate on oppositesidesaoi the openfing.Athereof.;:said:pin being; formedA of sheet; metal ,vandnbeingiitransverselyncurved andnrbeingfrcalso longitudinally bowed in a, direction away from said plates, the tapers of said clip and pin having substantially the same slope such that the wedging engagement therebetween is of large area and extends for substantially the full length of the clip.

2. In a fastening of the character described, a pair of superposed sheet metal plates in face-toface engagement of whichv the inner plate has an opening therein and the outer plate extends in continuous relation across said opening, a hollow metal clip having a tapered opening therein and also having a greater dimension longitudinally of said tapered opening than it does transversely of the tapered opening, said clip being formed by a transversely curved sheet metal member and having opposed in-turned connecting portions ex tending along said tapered opening and formed by opposite edge portions of said sheet metal member, said connecting portions being attached to said outer plate for mounting said clip thereon and said clip projecting inwardly through the opening of said inner plate, and a tapered resilient retainingipin extending through and wedgingly engaged in the tapered opening of said clip and having its ends bearing on said inner plate on 6 opposite sides of the opening thereof, said pin being formed of sheet metal and being transversely curved and being also longitudinally bowed in a direction away from said plates, the tapers of said clip and pin having substantially the same slope such that the wedging engagement therebetween is of large area and extends for substantially the f ull length of the clip.

DONALD KEITH MACLEOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille oi this patent:

`UNITED STATES PATENTS 

